This Compact Disc of early Sam Cooke gospel recordings with the Soul Stirrers makes an invaluable contribution to the legacy of one of the most original and influential vocal stylists of all time. Of the 25 selections, one is entirely new to disc, two are released for the first time without edits, and seven are alternate takes, including a gripping nearly four-minute meeting between Cooke and the awesome Julius Cheeks. The alternates, when compared to the originally issued versions, provide new insight into Cooke’s improvisatory genius. And six more tracks are made available for the first time ever without instrumental overdubs, revealing the rich harmonies of Cooke and the Soul Stirrers in all their naked glory.